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How to insert current timestamp when data in another cell changes in Excel?

Supposing you receive a worksheet which needs you to modify data in a certain column. And after modifying the worksheet, you need to insert the modified timestamp to let others know which cells have been changed. How to deal with it? This article will show you method of inserting current timestamp when data in another cell changes in Excel as below screenshot shown.

Insert current timestamp when data in another cell changes with VBA code

Insert current timestamp when data in another cell changes with VBA code

As below screenshot shown, you need to populate timestamp in column E if corresponding cells in column C are changed. Please do as follows.

1. In the worksheet you need to modify and mark with timestamp, right click the sheet tab and then click View Code from the right-clicking menu.

2. Then copy and paste the below VBA code into the Code window of the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window. See screenshot:

VBA code: Insert current timestamp when data in another cell changes

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
'Updated by Extendoffice 20180830
Dim xCellColumn As Integer
Dim xTimeColumn As Integer
Dim xRow, xCol As Integer
Dim xDPRg, xRg As Range
xCellColumn = 3
xTimeColumn = 5
xRow = Target.Row
xCol = Target.Column
If Target.Text <> "" Then
    If xCol = xCellColumn Then
       Cells(xRow, xTimeColumn) = Now()
    Else
        On Error Resume Next
        Set xDPRg = Target.Dependents
        For Each xRg In xDPRg
            If xRg.Column = xCellColumn Then
                Cells(xRg.Row, xTimeColumn) = Now()
            End If
        Next
    End If
End If
End Sub

Note: In the code, number 3 means that you are going to modify data in column C, and 5 indicates the timestamp will be populated into column E. Please change them based on your needs.

3. Press the Alt + Q keys to close the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

From now on, when changing data in column C, the timestamp will be populated into corresponding cells in column E as below screenshot shown.

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Comments (55)
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Abdul
Abdul
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Hi, The above formula will be useful for single cell time stamp update Ex: If we enter any data in 3rd cell, time stamp automatically updated in 5th cell. Please advice for multiple cell update. Ex: If we enter any data in 3rd cell, time stamp automatically updated in 5th cell and if we enter on 4th cell, it will update on 6th cell.
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Tyler
Tyler     Abdul
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I too am interested in this exact question. Have you found an answer? Will my commenting on this draw anyone else's attention to the question?!
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eric
eric
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I am pasting multiple rows and columns worth of data (at one time, and always at the same time). i'd only like for the time stamp to display in one cell. in other words, whenever cell C9 changes (the top left corner of my data), display the time in cell A1. any help would be much appreciated!
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november
november
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how can we lock the time format.. cuz it updates everytime and inserts date and time.
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chia
chia
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I am creating a work sheet in Excel where I want to track Start and End time of a particular transaction using a timestamp. A column will also show the time duration. Please see picture below. Can someone help me? Image below.

I found 2 VBA Codes that records time stamps. However, I don't know how to merge them so they will work in this sheet:


Code 1 . It shows timestamp in "Start Time" column (B4) when you enter a transaction number in "Case ID" coumn (A4).


Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
On Error GoTo Handler
If Target.Column = 1 And Target.Value <> "" Then
Application.EnableEvents = False
Target.Offset(0, 1) = Format(Now(), "mm/dd/yyyy HH:mm:ss")
Application.EnableEvents = True
End If
Handler:
End Sub


Code 2. It shows time stamp in "End Time" column (D4) if a selection from a dropdown in "Status" column (C4) is selected.


Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim xCellColumn As Integer
Dim xTimeColumn As Integer
Dim xRow, xCol As Integer
xCellColumn = 3
xTimeColumn = 4
xRow = Target.Row
xCol = Target.Column
If Target.Text <> "" Then
If xCol = xCellColumn Then
Cells(xRow, xTimeColumn) = Now()
End If
End If
End Sub
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crystal
crystal     chia
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Dear chia,
Did not see your image. Please click the below Upload files button to upload your picture.
View Attachments (1 / 5)
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Mary
Mary
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What is the code if I want to timestamp several cells individually in the same worksheet?
Example: Change in column 3, timestamp in column 5. Change in column 10, timestamp in column 11. Change in column 13, timestamp in column 14.
xCellColumn = 3
xTimeColumn = 5
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crystal
crystal     Mary
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Dear Mary,
The following VBA code can help you. Thank you for your comment.

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim I As Long
Dim J As Long
Dim xCols As Long
Dim xSRg As Range
Dim xRgEx As Range
Dim xSRgArea As Range
Dim xNextArea As Range
On Error Resume Next
Application.EnableEvents = False
Set xSRg = Union(Range("C:C"), Range("E:E"), Range("J:K"), Range("M:N"))
Set xRgEx = Intersect(xSRg, Target)
If xRgEx Is Nothing Then GoTo ExitSub
For I = 1 To xSRg.Areas.Count
J = I
Set xSRgArea = xSRg.Areas.Item(I)
If xRgEx.Column = xSRgArea(1).Column Then
xCols = xSRgArea.Columns.Count
If xCols = 1 Then
Set xNextArea = xSRg.Areas.Item(J + 1)
If xNextArea Is Nothing Then
GoTo ExitSub
ElseIf xNextArea.Columns.Count = 1 Then
xNextArea(xRgEx.Row).Value = Now()
Exit For
End If
ElseIf xCols = 2 Then
xSRgArea.Columns(2).Rows(xRgEx.Row).Value = Now()
Exit For
End If
End If
Next
ExitSub:
Application.EnableEvents = True
End Sub
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Britni Smith
Britni Smith     crystal
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Can you share what needs to be updated to make it specific to another spreadsheet? For instance, changes in C timestamp in E, changes in G timestamp in I, changes in O timestamp in Q.
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W D
W D     Britni Smith
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I simply strung the first code mentioned above together, changing all the variables from VAR to VAR1/VAR2/VAR3 etc
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Suresh Thangaiyan
Suresh Thangaiyan
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Hi, can be done if any values are changed and the timestamp is updated only in a particular cell like A1
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crystal
crystal     Suresh Thangaiyan
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Good Day,
If you want to always display timestamp in cell A1 if any values are changed in a certain range. The following VBA code can help.

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim xRg As Range
On Error Resume Next
Set xRg = Intersect(Target, Range("B1:D4"))
If xRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
Range("A1").Value = Now()
End Sub
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Farid
Farid     crystal
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hi Crystal, this is really good, how can I get the timestamp change in each corresponding row when any cell from the range of cells in the respective row changes. Like A2 should get updated with timestamp when any changes are done between B2 to H2 and so on with A3, A4 etc.
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Amelius George
Amelius George
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I've got a database in excel that I need to keep track of what has been changed.
Is it possible to modify the code so that if changes are made in sheet 1, it will duplicate the changed cell in sheet 2 and provide a time stamp beside it?
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crystal
crystal     Amelius George
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Good day,
Sorry can't help with that. Thank you for your comment.
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Leslie
Leslie
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Thank you so much for this! I use scroll buttons to add 1 to my total every time I complete a task, but macros don't register changes to the buttons. After doing some more research I figured out how to assign a macro to my control buttons and now I can track my changes!!!! I was making it more complicated than it need to be, this is what I ended up with:


Sub Timestamp()
'
' Timestamp Macro
' Timestamp on scroll buttons
'
'
Range("j2").Value = Now()

End Sub
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Diego
Diego
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Hi, This works perfectly if I manually change the cell, when I copy and paste information is not working. I'm trying to have this timestamp every time someone pastes new information. Rather than changing cell information one by one, the behavior I want to capture is when the data is pasted in bulk for multiple cells. Does somebody know what I should do?


Thanks,
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Dennis
Dennis
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thanks so much for this, however the timestamp only changes if the value in the cell is changed "manually". If it's changed due to a change in another cell and the value changes as part of a formula, there is no timestamp. Do you have a solution for this? thanks! Dennis
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crystal
crystal     Dennis
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Dear Dennis,
The code has been updated with the problem solved. Thanks for your comment.
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bassel
bassel
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Hi,

This is exactly what I was looking for! However I was wondering if you can help me get it to work with a protected worksheet. It only seems to work on an unprotected one (when the timestamp updates due to a change in value as part of a formula, similar to Dennis' request).

Thank you so much! Bassel
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crystal
crystal     bassel
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Hi,
This can also work on a protected worksheet. You need to format the changed cells and the timestamp cells to unlocked status in advance before protecting the worksheet. Please have a try again. Thanks for your comment.
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Alec
Alec
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Hi,


Is it possible to alter the code so that any changes in multiple columns would generate a new timestamp in the same cell? I.e. I make an edit in anyone of cells A3, B3 or C3 and the timestamp updates just in C4?


Also, is it possible to make the code apply only to a specific range within a sheet?


Thanks
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crystal
crystal     Alec
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi Alec
Please try the below VBA code. Thank you for your comment.

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim xRRg, xRg As Range
Dim xRgArray As Variant
Dim xStrCell As String
Dim xSCRg As Range
Dim xStrResult As String
xRgArray = Array("A1:C10")
xStrCell = "A3, B3, C3"
xStrResult = "C4"
On Error Resume Next

If Target.Cells.count > 1 Then Exit Sub
For xFNum = LBound(xRgArray) To UBound(xRgArray)
If xRgArray(xFNum) <> "" Then
Set xRg = Range(xRgArray(xFNum))
If Not xRg Is Nothing Then
Set xSCRg = Null
Set xSCRg = xRg.Range(xStrCell)
xSCRg.Select
If Not xSCRg Is Nothing Then
If Not Intersect(xSCRg, Target) Is Nothing Then
Set xRRg = xRg.Range(xStrResult)
If xRRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
xRRg.Value = Now()
Exit For
End If
End If
End If
End If
Next xFNum
End Sub
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Blaze
Blaze     crystal
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Hey, hopefully you still see this!!! I'm using the code below for a timestamp update in C6 anytime C5 is updated. The problem is that when I'm in the rest of the worksheet, anytime I hit enter or tab, it jumps me back to C5. Any thoughts?

Dim xRRg, xRg As Range
Dim xRgArray As Variant
Dim xStrCell As String
Dim xSCRg As Range
Dim xStrResult As String
xRgArray = Array("C5:C6")
xStrCell = "C5"
xStrResult = "C6"
On Error Resume Next

If Target.Cells.Count > 1 Then Exit Sub
For xFNum = LBound(xRgArray) To UBound(xRgArray)
If xRgArray(xFNum) <> "" Then
Set xRg = Range(xRgArray(xFNum))
If Not xRg Is Nothing Then
Set xSCRg = Null
Set xSCRg = xRg.Range(xStrCell)
xSCRg.Select
If Not xSCRg Is Nothing Then
If Not Intersect(xSCRg, Target) Is Nothing Then
Set xRRg = xRg.Range(xStrResult)
If xRRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
xRRg.Value = Now()
Exit For
End If
End If
End If
End If
Next xFNum
End Sub
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Rachel
Rachel     crystal
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Hey, this is sort of similar to what I require, i'd like for a timestamp to be updated in column AG when cells between A and AH are updated.
I've tried the above code but have had no luck.
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Jessica
Jessica
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I have a project I'm working on that I update regularly. It's mostly just for keeping track of my employee's information like phone numbers, drivers license expiration, etc. Since I update it so frequently, I want an automatic timestamp that rests at the top or bottom of my worksheet that will update with today's date everytime I update information ANYWHERE on the spreadsheet. I currently use A-N and 1-42 so I need a stamp around M40. How would that code look?
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Tychabrahe
Tychabrahe     Jessica
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Open Developer and on your workbook select the Workbook and the BeforeSave event.


In the sub put the code: Range("M40").value = Now
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Sander
Sander
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Adding the timestamp works very good and is very useful. However I receive an error when I delete a row, because the script cannot insert the timestamp in the row that does not exist anymore.


Would be great if someone can advice how to solve this.
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crystal
crystal     Sander
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Hi Sander,
There is no error occur in my case. Can you tell me your Excel version? Thank you for your comment.
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Farid
Farid
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Hi Crystal, this is really good, how can I get the timestamp change in each corresponding row when any cell from the range of cells in the respective row changes. For example, A2 should get updated with timestamp when any changes are done on second row between B2 to H2 and similarly A3 gets the timestamp when changes done on B3 to H3, and so on until the last row.
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SenthilKumar S
SenthilKumar S
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Hello Everyone

Thanks in advance for your help.

What should be code to update the current time on the cell in column X if there is a change in any cell on that row? For example any change in values on cells a2 to w2, then the time should be to updated in x2.


Thanks Again.
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spen
spen
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Would the timestamp functionality be bypassed if the excel file you're using is a refreshable?
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crystal
crystal     spen
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Good day,
The code does not support connections data. Sorry for the inconvenience.
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JediTrader
JediTrader
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Gents,

It has been a month I am looking for a similar solution like this one. While the above solution seem to be OTM, I am using this for the stock market.
So I have Column F where I have implemented a Buy/Sell strategy and the sheet continues to refresh every 1 minute. I have Column T where I want the time stamp based on the following conditions :

(1) Column F - Signals a Buy or Sell
(2) Column F - Changes from a Buy to Sell or Sell to Buy
(3) Column F - Changes from a Buy/Sell to empty

While the general solution that is available on the net seem to be working (excel formula), but when the data refreshes it punches the current time than the signal time. For e.g. If I get a Buy @ 9:15 hrs and if the current time is 10:30, I get to see 10:30 hours in the Column T (Signal time) and not 9:15 hours.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

Warm Regards
JT
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Luis
Luis
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5/15/19|1:41 PM|John Smith|125B-1|10000000|Equipment|Staff|5/15/19|2:43 PM|Staff

The above post shows the data that is input into a row. I was seeking help updating the first 2 columns that contain a timestamp whenever the ID (10000000) column is populated. If possible could the timestamps also be removed if the ID is also removed? Concerning the last 3 columns (date|time|staff) could those timestamps get updated whenever the last column is populated with a staff name. I tried playing around with the code but my lack of knowledge with VBA only allowed me to do so much.
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ajax
ajax
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Hi Crystal,
I am trying to create a function where If I update any Cell in H9:L9 in Sheet 1, timestamp in cell C2 in Sheet 2 should get updated.
Now I need to do this on about 100 rows in Sheet 1( H10:L10, H11:L11) and update corresponding C3, C4....in Sheet 2

Any help is greatly appreciated. Cheers.!
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